The Cat Ladies Guide to Crafting

This book is made for the Cat Lady in your life.

I have to admit that this is more of a book club blog, but the book in question is just too amazingly odd and wonderful I had to post about it for you cat loving fans out there. As all cat ladies know, their precious little kitties produce hair, lots of hair. Shedding is particular bad when it comes to indoor cats because it gets on everything from your sweater to the sofa and under the oven. You might think that this hair has absolutely no purpose except to make you sneeze and be miserable but low and behold, a fellow cat lover has discovered a use for cat hair – crafting!

That is correct. The book “Crafting with Cat Hair: Cute Handicrafts to Make with Your Cat” delves into what is sure to be a cult crafting favorite in the coming years. The book is adorable with loads of pictures and easy to make crafts which use your cat’s hair. Projects don’t require a full out shaving of your pet but instead can be made from the wads of hair which congregate in corners of your living rooms or in your kitty’s hairbrush after a good grooming. Projects include making a mini portrait of your cat from hair to more practical things like gloves, mittens and tote bags. Germ-o-phobes (or really just people who follow the basic standards for hygiene) have no fear, you can clean your cats for before use and it will be just as properly clean as lamb’s wool but so much more special because it comes from your own little smitten kitten.

How Do Cats Mark Their Territory?

If you've ever moved to a new place with a cat, you may have noticed that the cat almost immediately goes around to all the corners (cabinets, furniture edges, and the various inner walls) and rubs the side of their face against it. Do you know what they're really doing?

 

They are marking their territory!

 

Watch closer the next time this happens and you will see notice that they actually make contact with the corner of their mouth which is where one of their major scent glands are located. If you keep watching, you will also notice they will follow this up usually by rubbing their romp against the same spot. There is another major scent gland at the base of their tail that can also help define their territory.

I always get a kick out of watching my cat do this, especially when we go traveling together and she actually takes the time to mark the hotel room or the host's house.

 

If you move into a house that was previously occupied by a cat(s), you will notice if you look very carefully at the corners a very subtle indentation. It's so small you probably won't notice it if you aren't looking for it but it is there I promise. This is because cats don't just mark their territory once, they re-mark it multiple times. Over time, this causes a small indentation in the walls where the mark.

 

I've also noticed that my cat will mark a territory extra well if she encounters a new place that was previously marked by another cat.

Keeping Your Black Cat Indoors for Halloween?

You Might Not Need to Worry

Black cats have been the subject of fear and superstition for ages, but especially around Halloween.  Speculations abound about the torment black cats caught unaware on or around Halloween will endure, and many owners fearfully keep their inky feline friends locked away for the duration.  Is all that fear really warranted?

A headline in the Daily Toreador sums it all up, "Humane Society refuses black cat adoption during Halloween season."  With groups such as the Humane Society fueling these fears, it is no wonder cat owners are afraid for their feline companions and feel the need to resort to locking them up at Halloween.  It's a sad testament to our society that such a headline even bears writing.The good folks over at Fact Checker took it upon themselves to find out how true it is that black cats suffer more during Halloween, and they found their answers.

After interviewing supervisors for regional animal services, a director of a humane society and a director of a feline rescue group, it appears there is no connection between Halloween and increased cruelty to black cats.  In more than 20 years on the job working in animal protection, Bonney Brown has never seen evidence of injury to black cats related to Halloween.

So for you cat owners who are keeping your cats indoors during the Halloween season, you can probably rest easy and let your cats enjoy the great outdoors again.  The biggest concern might be the heightened traffic in your area - black cats are notoriously difficult to spot on a dark night.

When Cats became Pets

Every cat lady should know a little about the impressive history of their tabby.

Whether you think of your cat as your pet or as your cat as your owner, it is important to know just how long cats have been loved and adored by our society. Cat depictions and drawings have been found in the Fertile Crescent which are over 9,500 years old. No one can be sure when cats and humans began being buddies, but one thing for sure is it has been a long term relationship between species.

As far back as 4,000 years ago, cats were being domesticated to keep stores and homes free of nasty rodents. Today’s barn cats must be direct descendants of these kitties who were so vital to commerce in the times of Ancient Egypt.

As most people know, cats were very revered by the Ancient Egyptians. There was even a law against killing cats, imagine the growth of the cat population! Cats would even be mummified before burial, a luxury that not all humans even got to enjoy. Eventually domestic cats were introduced to Western Europe, such as Italy, and before long kitties became a household favorite.

Cats aren’t only correlated with cuddly hugs and purring however. For example, black cats have been a sign of bad luck or worse, death, for centuries. Gruesomely enough, a legend in Western Europe was that cats would suck the life from newborn infants who died young. Fortunately cats have been able to overthrow such stereotypes with an ongoing public relations effort which includes catching mice, involving themselves in adorable Disney films and more.

Spaying and Neutering Cats

Spaying and neutering isn’t a fun topic for kitties, but it is generally accepted as one of the best things a cat owner can do for the cat population.

Spaying and neutering your cat can be unpleasant at best, or appear down right cruel, at worse. However, most all animal professionals say it is one of the best things a person can do for their pet and the world of animals. Most cat ladies are animal lovers at heart and neutering and spaying is the most effective step towards controlling the cat population and putting an end to kittens with no home.

The process isn’t as bad as it sounds. You should only take your cat to a licensed veterinarian for such a procedure to ensure your pets safety. The first step is the vet will put your cat under general anesthesia which will minimize pain during surgery. The surgery is different for male and female cats but your veterinarian will be able to explain the process to you. Alternatively, if it seems a little gruesome, just enjoy ignorance as bliss and leave the process up to the professionals.

It usually only takes cats about two days to recover from the procedure. The cat will seem tired and cranky, but with lots of love they will be chasing strings in no time. After being spayed or neutered, cats are often reported to behave better. This is because sexual urges are gone so they aren’t spending time flirting and getting into fights. On the downside, this docile behavior may lead to weight gain, so it is important to keep your cat on a good and balanced diet.

Neutering is generally recommended when your cat is six months old. If you take in a cat who is a grown adult they are still perfectly fine for the operation as well. Spaying and neutering can cut back significantly on the amount of cats born into this world who end up strays or worse, euthanized. Kitties certainly want what is best for their species, so don’t feel bad signing them up to be spayed or neutered.

When the Human is away the Cat will Play

Cats are a great pet because they don’t mind being left alone, but it doesn’t mean they don’t need things to keep them entertained.

Cats have no problem being left at home while their human family is at work or school. As long as kitty has a clean litter box, a full bowl of water and maybe some food for snacking, then it will be good to go. But this doesn’t mean cats aren’t looking for some midday entertainment in between naps. In fact, some toys, games and more will keep you kitty more fit, healthier and all around happier. This means they will be less 

likely to trip you while begging for cuddles when you get home and want to go to the bathroom or eat some dinner. Here are some ideas of toys and entertainment your cat can enjoy while you are out of town:

Movies: It might sound silly, but your cat would probably go for some morning cartoons. There are cat specific DVDs which feature birds, bunnies and more in nature. Lots of cats love to watch the little animals dart around and sometimes start smacking the television to get in on the action. Be sure your television is secure, pop in the DVD and your cat is entertained for hours.

Cat Nip: Get your furry friend a catnip ball or cigar and they will literally be rolling in it for days. Cats go nuts for stuff and won’t even notice you are gone.

Toy Box: Fill a little box with tiny toys and your kitties predator instinct will kick in. Don’t be surprised if you come home to a tired cat and little toys all strewn out across the floor, clearly a win for the cat.

Don’t let your cat stew in boredom. There are plenty of products on the market to keep all cats happy. 

10 Reasons to Keep a Cat

Cat people and dog people have been arguing about who has better pets (and tastes) for years, and though I can appreciate both animals and have kept dozens of pets, I’d have to say that I definitely side with the cat people overall. Maybe it’s just because dogs are harder; I always had them as a child and my parents trained them, and the one dog I’ve tried to train as an adult was a bit of a disaster. We ended up having to re-home him, but we also simply didn’t have the room for a big breed like that, either.

Aside from their smaller size (when compared to some dog breeds), however, there are plenty of reasons to keep cats as companions, such as…

10. They Shed Less

I know that some cat species do shed, but I’ve had many different species and never had a problem. The worst I’ve ever had left clumps of hair, which were easy to pick up. The dogs I’ve had didn’t shed much either, to be honest, but friends with dogs have major shedding problems.

9. Cats Poo Better

You might laugh at this one, but I’d much rather change a litter box twice a week than stumble out into the yard to let the dog out every morning at 2 AM, or rush home to let her out, or clean up big messes all over the house if I miss one of these times. We never have to miss or end a playdate early because we have to go home and let the dog out, as many other families do.

8. Cats Protect!

Sure, dogs bark at strangers (sometimes too much) and might scare some people away, but cats keep me protected from things inside the house that I can’t see, like mice or spiders. Just tonight, I had a jumping spider escape when I tried to kill it—but that was no problem, since my youngest cat, River, took care of it for me.

7. Cats Tell You When Something is Wrong

The dogs I’ve had were pretty much happy all of the time, which really is nice; that kind of unconditional love is hard to find for sure. But my cats get tense when it’s appropriate and I can detect an oncoming storm from their behavior. I can also see from their expressions if someone is behind me (which a dog might ignore).

6. Cats Don’t Make Much Noise

Now, kitten owners know this isn’t completely true, as they love to run around, mew, and make mischief like any other youngster. But for the most part, you don’t have the barking or whining you get with a dog when you have cats.

5. Cats are Neater

Sure, they are cleaner from bathing ALL DAY LONG (could you imagine if we did that, and how much water we’d waste?), but they also just don’t make as many messes. Again, younger cats might, but if yours are neutered or spayed they’ll likely be mellower—and the older they are the less they tear up. Just be sure to provide a scratching post that works!

4. Cats are Prettier

Okay, this is an aesthetic reason to keep a cat, but to me it’s simply true. Most of the cats I’ve had are so elegant and lovely; when you come home and see them sitting in the window it just makes you feel more like you’re home.

3. Cats Don’t Stink

Sure, their litter boxes do, and on occasion you’ll meet a gassy feline, but on the whole cats don’t really smell like anything—at least, not in my experience. A dog, on the other hand, usually requires regular bathing to prevent him or her from stinking—especially if he or she is large.

2. They are So Easy to Care For

Other than regular feeding, litter changing, and yearly vet visits, cats pretty much take care of themselves. They don’t need you for much. A dog, on the other hand, requires daily maintenance—which is fine if you have the time to truly commit to it. I’ve seen too many dogs suffer from people taking them on who just don’t realize what a responsibility it is.

1. They Snuggle so Well

Dogs really snuggle well, too. But when a cat curls up against your back or in your lap and purrs, it’s really hard to think anything is wrong with the world. It’s cheesy but it’s true!

Which do you prefer: dogs or cats?

Take the Scratch out of the Cat

Nothing beats petting a cat, but the fear of the claw can be a problem. Learn the best way to trim your cat’s nails.

Historically cats never needed their nails trimmed. Playing outside, climbing trees and fences and other strenuous activities kept the cats’ nails just the right sharpness to avoid predators. However, today’s indoors cats simply don’t have the need to avoid predators so much as avoiding the vacuum cleaner. Long sharp claws make affection a little more difficult. This is particular tricky with children who do not yet know how to hold animals and the last thing need is for their first animal experience to involve the claws of death. The best thing to do is keep your cat’s claws nice and trimmed.

The first step is finding appropriate clippers. You can choose to use the same clippers that you use for your own nails or purchase some specialized nail trimmers made for cats. Either option works, but the specialized ones have a design which may make the process easier. Next it is best to grab a partner. Nail trimming is usually easier with one person to hold the cat and one to trim. Gently squeeze the top and bottom of your cat’s paw and the claws will come right out. Be careful not to trim too far down, just clip off the pointy end and avoid the mid to lowed base which has a blood vessel. If you cat’s nail does bleed because you accidentally trimmed to far down, put some corn starch on the nail to stop the bleeding. Your cat will forgive you in no time. Your veterinarian or a pet training professional can help you learn to trim your cat’s nails if you need additional advice.

I Aspire to Cat Lady-Dom

Frankly, I'm at least halfway there already. In my mind, cat ladies are elderly spinsters who just don't give a hoot what anyone else says. They have given up on every aspect of life except having cats. I can get down with that!
I only have two cats, although I kind of have two more, if you count the neighbor's cats that I feed on my porch. She needed me to semi-adopt them for a month this summer while she had some work done on the deck that they use to get in and out of the house (and to escape her dogs).
Her construction is finished, but I still feed her cats for two reasons. First, because I like the company. Her cats are very sociable, and it's nice to have a happy face greet you on the porch every time you go in or out of the house. And second, because I feed them a much higher quality of food than I know they get at her house. Although her dogs get premium food, she feeds her cats whatever cheap-ass stuff she can find at the Grocery Outlet. I'm kind of a stickler for pet food, I'm currently feeding my cats Nutra Max although past entries have included Natural Balance, VF, and Innova.
I'm also single, living in a remote rural cabin, and I frequently wear sweat pants out in public. It's one of the benefits of living in a rural area: it's always super casual out here. I never the only person wearing sweats at the store. Heck, today I wore sweats when I ran a quick round of errands first thing in the morning (ATM to make a deposit, post office to pick up mail, convenience store to get more coffee).
See what I mean? I'm at least halfway to my cat lady goal!
One thing holding me back is my age. I kind of feel like 39 is too young to be a cat lady. It seems like you have to be at least 50 to be a real cat lady. But maybe that's just because 39 doesn't seem very old to me. I bet if you had asked me when I was 20, I would have said 39 was plenty old!
Another thing is the combination of finances and small home which keeps me from owning more than two cats. I think you need at least five cats before you can be a cat lady.
Semi-adopting the neighbor's cats is a great start, though, don't you think?

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